A round-up of today’s other stories in brief
File for DPP after gang members arrested over publican’s murder
Gardaí investigating the murder of publican Matt Farrell (64), of Daingean, Co Offaly, in April 2009 have sent a file on the case to the DPP. Mr Farrell, the owner of the Gaelic Bar, was found dead by his son in the pub on the morning of April 1st.
The bar had been broken into the previous night and Mr Farrell, who lived above the pub, had been tied to a chair. He had suffered head injuries which a postmortem showed as the cause of death.
Gardaí have arrested members of a gang suspected of break-ins in rural pubs across the Midlands and south east.
Four arrested in customs operation
Four men from Co Armagh have been arrested in a cross-Border customs operation in which almost 12,000 litres of suspected illegal fuel were seized.
A site selling cheap diesel was dismantled in west Belfast yesterday and 3,400 litres of diesel were seized.
Customs offers recovered 8,000 litres of laundered fuel stored in underground tanks in Co Armagh. There were also raids in Galway, Meath, Monaghan and Roscommon.
Ann Callely dies aged 32
The death has taken place of Ann Callely from cancer at the age of 32. Ms Callely, who was the sister of murder victim Rachel O’Reilly, died in the early hours of yesterday morning at her family home on Collins Ave, Dublin.
Along with her siblings and parents, Jim and Rose, Ann attended the court case every day of Joe O’Reilly (39), who was convicted in 2007 of the murder in 2004 of his wife and Ann’s sister, Rachel O’Reilly.
Fine Gael’s Kelly may run for Áras
Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly last night said he would consider running for the presidency if asked by his party.
The former GAA president said it would “be an honour” to run for the role. He hoped that he could do the job if he went for it, he said.
The Kerry man would “give it the greatest of consideration” if Fine Gael asked him to be their candidate in next year’s race for Áras an Uachtaráin.
Mr Kelly said he had not taken speculation that he might run seriously at first but that it was now “more definite” and there was “more urgency” to the matter.
He has been one of the many high-profile names being speculated on to run for the job in recent weeks. Bookmaker Paddy Power has placed him in sixth place to win the election at odds of 9/1.
The former teacher was first elected to the European Parliament for Munster last year.
Perch fisherman breaches rules
A man who was found with some 90 perch in his possession by fisheries inspectors has been convicted at Castleblayney District Court.
Antanas Gavutis of Streamstreet, Newry, was fined €150 and ordered to pay €1,134 costs and expenses when convicted for a breach of fishery regulations at Annadrummond Lake, Co Monaghan, on January 9th last.
Rail service ends on southeast line
The sight of trains crossing Ireland’s longest railway viaduct, the Barrow Bridge, will cease this weekend when services are withdrawn from the Rosslare Strand to Waterford line after more than 100 years.
Ironically, it is expected the final departure from Rosslare at 7am will attract one of its biggest passenger loads in years with rail enthusiasts and anti-closure campaigners expected to pack the train.
Man arrested after shooting
Gardaí arrested one man in relation to a shooting in north Dublin early yesterday morning. A 22-year-old man was injured as he stood outside a house at Adare Road, Coolock, at 1.30am. A gunman approached the house through nearby Stardust Park and opened fire. The injured man, from Darndale, was taken to Beaumont Hospital with a leg injury. He has refused to make a formal complaint to gardaí. A 24-year-old man was arrested and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Man charged over taking car with baby is freed on bail
A man charged in relation to an incident in which a car was taken while a baby boy was in the back seat has been given bail at Nenagh District Court.
Patrick McCarthy (61) of Mullaly Grove, Cappamore, Co Limerick, is charged with the unauthorised taking of a car following a series of events in north Tipperary on Thursday afternoon. Gardaí reported that a car was taken from the village of Newport at about 3pm and a four-month-old boy was in the back seat at the time. The car was later abandoned outside Nenagh following a major Garda operation and the child was reunited with his parents.
The case was adjourned until November at Nenagh court.